Nissan Mini Z
Everything just keeps getting smaller in Japan. That includes the new plans for the Nissan Mini Z sports car. They will be downsizing it in measurements and in weight and using a smaller engine. The whole idea is to base the new Z model on the Juke platform. Which means all wheel drive and a 1.6 liter 190 horse power engine. Turbo charged of course. They feel the key to success is to simplify the car and make it lighter.
It sounds odd, basing a sports car, the Z model no less, on the platform of a crossover like the Juke. But remember, a platform is just a platform. Nissan plans on giving the Subaru BRZ and its sister cars, the Scion FRS and Toyota 86 GT, a serious run for its money. We can rely on Nissan to do this right. They’ve a long tradition of making a damn fine sports car for some time now. As it
stands it would have 10 less horsepower than its competitors but Nissan will likely address that before production. Don’t be shocked if it has some kind of hybrid version with added horsepower from an electric engine. The Subaru and Scion may still be superior in the handling department however. Nissan does want to pay attention to the design details or it might just end up being another sporty hatch as opposed to being a rightful descendant of the legendary Z model sports coupe.
Where Nissan plans on really cutting the legs out from under the Scion and Subaru competitors is by building on the existing Juke platform. The money saved by the strategy will allow Nissan to charge as much as 10 percent less for the new Nissan Mini Z compared to its counterparts. That translates to a price tag of around $22,000. The crap news is that the mini Z will only be debuting in China. This is because the new mini Z was developed as a joint effort between Nissan’s Japanese and Chinese units. Japan and Europe will be getting a 
limited number of the car, but so far there is no real plans to introduce the Mini-Z to the U.S. but there’s no reason to fret. If there’s a market to be taken advantage of Nissan will likely make good on it. And the market for affordable sports cars is massive in North America. Besides, the previous Z models all sold remarkably in North America and it only stands to reason that fact will remain a strong reason to bring this newNissan Mini Z to our shores.
We might just have to be a little patient for it.
